After enjoying the best baguette of France (at least this is what the bakery in Port-sur-Saone claimes) for breakfast, we set sail for Traves. On the way, we again passed the tunnel de Saint-Albin. The traffic light behaved sort of inconsistent: After turning the hose, the traffic light switched to green permitting entrance to tunnel. Once we reached the canal leading up to tunnel, the traffic light switched to red. Maybe some “magic” of the technicians who we saw working on the channel entrance.
Construction of the tunnel started in 1838. It was however interrupted several times so that it could only be opened in 1880. Construction went on for another 2 years before it was finally completed. Today, it is classified as a historic monument. Before the wide spread use of steam engines, the ships transporting goods on the Saone were towed by horses on towpaths next to the canal. As there are are no walkways in the tunnel, the barges had to be hauled by hand along chains. The chains are still suspended from both sides of the walls.
We arrived in Traves in the afternoon. The restaurant, where Felix and myself had had a tasty meal last year was deserted. Some of the summer cottages were however inhabited. Later on, we learned that the owner had died about 3 weeks ago. A new management is now working on reopening it.
